The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, spoke on Saturday September 18 of the “Serious crisis” caused by the torpedoing of a huge French submarine contract by Canberra, denouncing “A major breach of trust” between France, the United States and Australia.
Asked about France 2, Mr. Le Drian thus justified the recall of the French ambassadors in Canberra and Washington by the existence of a “Serious crisis” between the three allies. “We have called back our ambassadors to try to understand and to show our former partner countries that we have very strong dissatisfaction […] “, he explained. This measure, the first in the history of relations between Paris and Washington, “Is very symbolic. There has been a lie, there has been duplicity, there has been a major breach of trust, there has been contempt so things are not right between us ”, did he declare.
“In a true alliance, we talk to each other, we respect each other”
In 2016, France signed a contract worth 90 billion Australian dollars (56 billion euros) for the supply to Australia of 12 diesel-powered submarines, often described as “Century contract” because of its scale and strategic reach. The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced on Wednesday a strategic partnership to counter China, Aukus (Australia, United Kingdom, United States), including the supply of American nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra which effectively took the French out of the game.
“In a true alliance, we talk to each other, we respect each other. That was not the case “, added the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The United States claimed to have had contact with France before Joe Biden’s announcement on Wednesday, but Paris has denied for several days having been warned beforehand. ” The Biden method resembles that of Trump ”, also said Jean-Yves Le Drian.
On the other hand, the recall of the French ambassador to London was deemed unnecessary: “We know their permanent opportunism”, he quipped, a few months after Brexit. “Great Britain in this affair is all the same a bit like the fifth wheel of the coach”.
Consequences for NATO
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also ruled that the crisis would weigh on the definition of NATO’s new strategic concept, without, however, mentioning any exit from the Atlantic alliance. “NATO has initiated a reflection, at the request of the President of the Republic, on its fundamentals. The next NATO summit in Madrid will be the culmination of the new strategic concept. Obviously, what just happened will have to do with this definition ”, estimated Mr. Le Drian.
“But at the same time, Europe must equip itself with its strategic compass and this will be the responsibility of France in the first half of 2022”, he added, referring to the French presidency of the European Union at the 1er January.
After the brutal withdrawal of the Americans from Afghanistan, without consultation with its allies, and this issue of submarines, “If Europeans do not feel that in order to remain in history, they must unite and together defend their own interests, then their destiny will be totally different”, insisted Jean-Yves Le Drian.